HEROES+ is a project for young people 14-24 with a learning disability/additional needs and/or excluded from school, providing innovative, transformative programmes that inspire them to develop their potential and be future community peacebuilders.
Event Category: Event
‘Migration story, of loss, hope & success’
As part of Good Relations Week 2024, the Inter Ethnic Foum held a ‘Migration story, of loss, hope & success’ for members of Bann Maine West Cluster .
The keynote speaker Yuliia Zhylinska bravely shared the story of her journey here to Northern Ireland as part of the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme 2.5 years ago with her 2 children whilst her husband remained behind to join the Ukrainian Army to defend their homeland.
We were also treated to traditional Ukrainian dishes of Buckwheat meat , cabbage rolls and honey cake.
Thanks to Joanne Brown Kerr for the invitation and Triangle Housing for funding this event.
Cultural Bytes: Hub Festival
An incredible night at the Cultural Bytes: Hub Festival!
Our young people from Clady, Upperlands, Coleraine, and Ballymoney had the OpportUNITY to celebrate the diversity of cultures through delicious food, creative crafts, and an energetic African drum workshop, all for Good Relations Week. A special shout-out to Thomas and Saba for delivering amazing workshops that truly brought the event to life! From international games to tasting traditional Chinese food from Bonny, the evening was packed with fun, learning, and new experiences!
A huge thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event a massive success!
Cultural Sharing Art Event
Karen Blasko, Ballymac Arts hosted a cultural art sharing event with The Falls Women’s Centre. Everyone who took part from Falls and Newtownabbey generously shared their henna art skills and crochet skills, as well as home baking. There was also an ink and print workshop, and a chance to chat over cakes and a cuppa. What we share makes us stronger!
Shared Learning at Cliftonville Community Centre
As part of #GRW24 Beyond Skin took part in a Shared Learning event at Cliftonville Community Centre Belfast through the music and dance of Eritrea, with Meron and Berie, aka DJ Beramu.
Community Awards 2024 – ABC Council
The red carpet was rolled out at the weekend to celebrate the Community Awards 2024, with a glittering ceremony recognising and rewarding some of our incredible community champions.
A total of 34 groups and individuals from across the borough were shortlisted for 11 awards. Each received high praise for being a leading example of good citizenship and selfless dedication to better community causes and deliver positive outcomes for people from all backgrounds.
Speaking at the awards, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Councillor Sarah Duffy praised the exceptional endeavours of all those receiving a nomination.
“Our Community Awards, which celebrate the spirit of volunteering in the borough, allows us the opportunity to show our gratitude for all the hard work these extraordinary people have undertaken – and highlights the commitment each and every one of them has offered, bringing positive change and instilling civic pride.
“It was very apt that our awards coincided with Good Relations Week and this really added to the celebrations on the night as we recognised so many remarkable people who endeavour to work together to benefit others.
“I would like to take this opportunity thank you all for everything you have done and continue to do for others across the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon borough, and for all our sponsors for generously giving their support on the night.”
The awards were thoroughly enjoyed by all thanks to a wonderful evening hosted at the Seagoe Hotel, a delicious banquet, musical entertainment courtesy of the amazing Niamh Node, The Girl with the Harp, and the extremely talented Dukes.
TV Personality Sarah Travers was MC for the night and made it one to remember!
The Community Awards were supported by The Executive Office District Councils Good Relation Programme along with local businesses sponsoring the various award categories.
And the winners were:
COMMUNITY ECO AWARD: Sponsored by Traynors
Winner: Taghnevan Community Development Association
INNOVATION AWARD: Sponsored by Avondale Foods
Winner: VIBE
EQUALITY AND GOOD RELATIONS AWARD: Sponsored by Thompson Aero Seating
Winner: Armagh Roma and Traveller Support Group
AGE FREINDLY AWARD: Sponsored by Tarasis Enterprises
Winner: Loughshore Care Partnership
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Armagh Credit Union
Winner: Conor Hegarty
COMMUNITY SAFETY AWARD: Sponsored by Turkington Holdings
Winner: Lurgan Bowling Club
HEALTH AND WELL BEING AWARD: Sponsored by Linwoods
Winner: Fitzone Foundation
Under 18 Youth Volunteer: Sponsored by Manfreight
Winner: Alex Cooper
OpportUNITY AWARD: Sponsored by The Executive Office
Winner: First Bulgarian School
YOUTH CHAMPION AWARD: Sponsored by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
Winner: VIBE
LIFETIME ACHIEVER AWARD: Sponsored by Seagoe Hotel
Winner: Pearl Snowden
South West College embraces GRW24
South West College (SWC) students and staff came together to celebrate Good Relations Week 2024. This year’s theme, ‘OpportUNITY,’ was a call to action for creating a brighter, inclusive future for all, and SWC certainly rose to the occasion!
Tuesday, 17th September: A Day of Fun and Flavor
The festivities kicked off with an Online Good Relations Fun Quiz facilitated by Fearghal O’Boyle from Youthscape +. Participants from across campuses joined in for a lively session of trivia and camaraderie.
Later that day, the Erne Campus hosted a delightful Cultural Diversity Tasting event at the Erne Restaurant. Attendees were treated to a mouth-watering menu featuring dishes like Beef Goulash with Parisian Gnocchi, Crispy Sesame Chicken with Soy Noodles, and Triple Chocolate Brownies. It was a feast that celebrated the rich tapestry of cultures within the SWC community.
Wednesday, 18th September: An International Tea Party
The celebration continued at the SWC Enniskillen Skills and Technology Centre with an International Afternoon Tea. Organised by the Social Inclusion Team, the event offered a variety of traditional and Mediterranean tasters. From Goats Cheese and Red Onion Bruschetta to Chinese Spring Rolls and Mediterranean Tartlets, the spread was both diverse and delicious.
Thursday, 19th September: A Grand Finale
The week wrapped up with vibrant events at the Dungannon and Omagh Campuses. Both campuses hosted Cultural Diversity Tasting Afternoons alongside interactive quizzes and activities. The Dungannon Campus featured dishes like Pierogi, Cabbage Rolls, and Peri Peri Chicken, while the Omagh Campus offered Lamb Tagine and Thai Chicken Curry.
Good Relations Week 2024 at South West College was a resounding success, filled with fun, food, and a strong sense of community.
Transformative Belfast PEACEPLUS projects unveiled
Sixteen Belfast projects with the potential to bring communities together will share £15.1million of funding through the PEACEPLUS programme, administered by the Special EU Programmes Body.
Further details of schemes included in Belfast City Council’s PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan were unveiled at City Hall.
Over the next three years, 16 initiatives engaging over 17,000 residents will be delivered, with everyone across the city encouraged to get involved. Key projects include:
- Youth project which aims to educate young people on the importance of peace, conflict resolution and understanding difference;
- Multiculturalism to Interculturalism – culture and heritage project which will explore history and heritage, as well as the sharing and promotion of positive cultural heritage and identity; and
- Community empowerment project that will build the capacity of local communities across the city, strengthening community participation to help shape the future of their local area.
Six projects will focus on the theme of thriving and peaceful communities, with activity centred on young people, capacity building, health and wellbeing, sports and arts and employability.
A further five projects are aimed at celebrating cultures and diversity, with initiatives examining culture and heritage, community connections for minority communities, interfaith and belief, community engagement for LGBTQIA+ communities and empowerment for ex-politically motivated prisoners.
The regeneration and transformation of five local areas across the city will be achieved through capital works and activity projects at Distillery Street, Annadale Open Space, The Sanctuary Theatre, Access to the Hills and an LGBTQIA+ Hub at 2 Royal Avenue.
The PEACEPLUS projects provide the opportunity to create a brighter, inclusive, future for all, aligning with the theme for Good Relations Week.
Ulster Univeristy Magee Shared Education Event
100 P5 pupils come together at Ulster University Derry~Londonderry campus for shared education maths event
The event, ‘Rekindling Good Relations between Ebrington PS and Holy Child PS’ took place at Ulster University on Friday 20 September.
Pupils from Ebrington Primary School and Holy Child Primary School came together at Ulster University in Derry~Londonderry this week to take part in a day of interactive maths activities to mark Good Relations Week 2024.
At the Indoor Sports Hall on Ulster University’s Derry~Londonderry campus, the P5 pupils were supported by 32 Primary PGCE students to complete a range of mathematics activities covering topics including measuring, estimating and other interactive number games.
The schools, which have a longstanding shared education partnership, brought the pupils together in the setting of Ulster University Derry~Londonderry for an afternoon of non-conventional learning and teambuilding with their peers in shared education.
Katrina Bradley, Lecturer in Primary Mathematics in the Ulster University School of Education, commented:
“As a teacher myself and former shared education coordinator, I have seen the value of interactive, non-conventional learning practices that take the pupils out of their normal environment to learn alongside their peers at neighbouring schools. It was so refreshing, therefore, to welcome 100 pupils down to Ulster University in Derry~Londonderry for something different. The day was all about fun, through a variety of engaging maths activities, learning from others, and team building in an inclusive and supportive environment. We were more than happy to facilitate this session with the help of our Primary PGCE students, who delivered the activities before heading off on their PGCE placements next week.”
Deborah Armstrong, Shared Education Coordinator at Ebrington Primary School added:
“We had a fantastic day at Ulster University getting to know our friends at Holy Child Primary School and completing maths games and challenges. Though we have had a long-standing shared education partnership, this was the first time the two P5 classes have met so there was a great atmosphere as the pupils got to know each other while solving problems and working together as teams. A big thank you to Ulster University students and their lecturer, Mrs Katrina Bradley for making this a day the children will remember in their shared education memories!!”
Crafts at Kells & Connor Library
Primary school pupils enjoyed celebrating Good Relations Week 2024 by making friendship bracelets together at Kells and Connor Library. This is one of the series events organised by Libraries NI to run throughout Good Relations Week 2024.